News, Community, and Historical Thinking

What We’re Reading: July 12, 2012

Today’s roundup of interesting articles and links from around the web includes the 2012 Public History Reader’s Survey, writing for history buffs, an interesting French take on AHA President William Cronon’s “Professional Boredom” piece, Google Maps extended, and more.

News

2012 Public History Readers Survey
The National Council on Public History is seeking information from a wide variety of practitioners, educators, and students about how they receive information on public history. Please assist by responding to the 10–15 minute survey.

Confidentiality Right RejectedInside Higher Ed covers the federal appeals court decision to allow a subpoena of oral history records at Boston College pertaining to the IRA, despite promises to interview subjects of lifetime confidentiality. This adds to previous precedents, and serves as a reminder that oral historians should be very wary about promising confidentiality.

Discussions

Workingman’s ConstitutionAlso at Campaign Stops, William E. Forbath (Univ. of Texas) argues that “liberals must remind Americans of the constitutional promises and commitments” that we must heed “in attending to the economic needs and aspirations of ordinary Americans.”

The Difference between Live and Taped LecturesArthur Camins of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens Institute reflects on the great lectures by historians Harvey Goldberg and George Mosse, and why they can’t simply be recorded and still retain their full power.

Miscellaneous

Google at the GatesThe “street view” feature of Google Maps extends its reach inside the campuses of 27 colleges and universities across the United States, and many more around the world. Steve Kolowich from Inside Higher Ed discusses the implications.

Proper Grammar as a Matter of Fashion
John McWhorter, professor of linguistics, American studies, and Western civilization at Columbia University, discusses the changes in English grammar, and why “Linguists insist that it’s wrong to designate any kind of English ‘proper.’”